NCDC Releases March 2013 U.S. Climate Report

Submitted by susan.osborne on Mon, 04/15/2013 - 11:02am

Temperatures in March 2013 compared to the 1981-2010 average. See more. Credit: NOAA Climate.gov.

According to NOAA scientists, the average temperature for the contiguous U.S. during March was 40.8°F, 0.9°F below the twentieth-century average and the 43rd coolest March on record. Colder temperatures dominated east of the Rockies, and warm conditions prevailed in the West. For the first three months of 2013, the national temperature was 0.5°F above average.

The March nationally averaged precipitation total of 1.68 inches was 0.72 inch below the long-term average. This marked the fifth driest March on record for the Nation and the driest since 1966. Drought improved in the Southeast and Midwest, while drought continued to impact much of the Great Plains and West.

This monthly summary from NOAA's National Climatic Data Center is part of the suite of climate services NOAA provides to government, business, academia, and the public to support informed decision-making.